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Onion ring

language culture Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Onion rings are a popular and tasty snack. They are made from a slice of an onion. This slice looks like a circle or a ring.

People dip the onion in a thick liquid called batter. Some people also use bread crumbs for a crunch. Then they deep fry the ring in hot oil. Some people eat them as a side dish. Others enjoy them all by themselves. You might also see onion strings. These are thin strips instead of round circles.

There are many ways to make this food. Some recipes use no coating at all. These recipes appeared in 1902 and 1907. Other ways use milk or egg. Then the onion is coated in flour. This method was used in 1902 and 1908. The Fort Wayne Sentinel mentioned this in June 1908. Other recipes use a batter. This was common in 1919 and 1922. Some people prefer breaded rings. That style was found in 1914.

We can look back to find early recipes. A British writer named John Mollard wrote one. He published his book in 1802. The book was called The Art of Cookery Made Easy and Refined.

He told people to cut onions into slices. He used a batter with Parmesan cheese. He suggested frying them in lard. This is a type of fat. He also said to serve them with mustard and melted butter.

Science helps explain why they taste so good. Cooking changes the onion in a special way. It breaks down a part called propanethial oxide. This part is found inside the onion. The heat turns it into bispropenyl disulfide. This new part has a sweet smell. It also gives the ring a slightly sweet taste. This makes the onion taste very different after frying.

Onion rings are part of many food groups. They are often seen as fast food. They are also called hors d'oeuvre. This is a small dish served before a meal. You can find them in British cuisine. They are also popular in the Southern United States. People in New England and Canada eat them too. You might even find onion snacks that look like rings. One example is Funyuns. These are corn-based snacks shaped like rings.

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